176. What’s the secret to turning chaos into calm?

Are stress and reactivity running the show? Today on Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline chats with parenting expert Linda Clement to uncover how survival brains hijack our emotions and what we can do to bring calm and connection back into focus. Linda shares simple, science-backed strategies to quiet the stress response and reignite creativity, empathy, and resilience in kids and adults alike. Discover how subtle shifts in your approach can create big changes in emotional well-being and behavior. This conversation offers practical tools that parents, teachers, and anyone working with children can use immediately to foster emotional safety and healthier relationships. Learn how to tune into the body, rewire the brain for calm, and lead by example so kids can thrive in today’s high-pressure world. Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/emotioncardsbodyoutlines/ https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/understanding-emotions-and-needs/ https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/helping-kids-manage-emotions/ Homework Ideas: Body Awareness Check-In: At the start and end of the day, pause for 30 seconds to notice what your body feels like. Are your shoulders tense? Is your breathing shallow? Share this practice with your kids or students and ask them to describe their own body signals. Finger Sensory Practice: Teach kids how to focus their attention by gently rubbing their fingertips together. Show them how to notice the sensations and use this as a reset tool when emotions run high. Emotion Mapping: Create an "emotion wheel" that matches feelings with physical sensations (e.g., frustration = tight chest, excitement = butterflies). Use it to help kids identify what they’re experiencing in real-time. Name Your Triggers: Write down a list of common stress triggers. Discuss how each of you feels when faced with those triggers and brainstorm calming strategies together. Daily Gratitude Game: Everyday, take turns sharing one thing that made you feel safe or happy that day. This reinforces connection and encourages kids to focus on positive experiences. Connect Through Storytelling: Share a time when you felt scared or stressed and how you calmed yourself down. Encourage kids to share their own stories and celebrate their efforts to manage big emotions. "Toe Finder" Challenge: During a moment of overwhelm, guide kids to focus on their feet and notice their toes. This quick exercise helps ground them and redirects their attention to the present. Mirror Emotional Words: Start describing emotions you notice in yourself and your child throughout the day (“You seem frustrated right now” or “I feel excited about this!”). This models emotional literacy and normalizes feelings. Thrive Brain Reset Jar: Create a jar with small slips of paper listing sensory grounding activities (e.g., "Take a deep breath and count to five," "Find five red things in the room"). When stress spikes, pull a slip and complete the activity together. About Linda Linda flips the script on parenting, from tips and tricks to "get" them to obey, listen, mind, do what they're told, etc... to listening, supporting, encouraging and nurturing them, instead. Transforming families from conflict and chaos to peaceful and cooperative through confidential parent coaching. Linda has been helping families reach their own goals since 2002. Author of 3 parenting books, Linda earned her Skilled Communicator designation in 2011 with the organization that was originally Toastmistresses. As a softball umpire for 17 years, she is neutral and observant, quickly seeing the key pieces of a family's struggles. Get in touch with Linda Email: Lindaclement@raisingparents.net FB: www.facebook.com/linda.clement.733/ IG: www.instagram.com/raising_parents_inc Website: www.raisingparents.net https://subscribepage.io/mentalfitnessrecorded Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/